Instigator / Pro
7
1702
rating
77
debates
70.13%
won
Topic
#2197

Resolved: If the Earth is a flat disc, any object would not fall off the edge by Newton's laws of motion

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
3
0
Better sources
2
2
Better legibility
1
1
Better conduct
1
1

After 1 vote and with 3 points ahead, the winner is...

fauxlaw
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
Two days
Max argument characters
12,000
Voting period
Two weeks
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
4
1489
rating
19
debates
42.11%
won
Description

Resolved: If the Earth is a flat disc, any object would not fall off the edge by Newton's laws of motion [especially not by Newton's laws of motion, law #2: f = ma, or "gravity" as defined below]

Full Description:

Resolved: If the Earth is a flat disc, any object would not fall off the edge by Newton's laws of motion [specifically, by Newton's laws of motion, law #2: f = ma, or "gravity" as defined below] The force of gravity will not function that way with a celestial body that has the shape of a flat, limited plane, such as a disc. In any celestial body, Newton’s three laws of motion, [ref. 1, 2] apply:
1. Every object in a state of uniform motion will remain in that state of motion unless an external force acts on it. [a.k.a., the law of inertia]
2. Force equals mass times acceleration [f = ma]. Also considered the force of gravity
3. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Definitions: all definitions herein described are subject to the conditions of the resolution of a flat-disc-planetary body.

Earth: a planetary celestial body, proposed by Flat Earthers to be a limited flat plane; effectively, a disc.

Object: Any object, animate or inanimate, existing near the edge of Earth in a condition such as described in the definition of “Earth” above.

Fall: The action on an object set in motion by the effect of Newton’s first law of motion [a.k.a.: the law of inertia] when moved off the edge of the disc, Earth. The effect would theoretically be known as the force of “gravity.”

Gravity: The action on an object according to Newton’s second law of motion [a.k.a.: f = ma]

Debate protocol:
1. No waive of rounds. This action will be considered a round forfeit
2. Round 1, 2 Argument/rebuttal/defense
Round 3 No new argument, rebuttal/defense/conclusion

reference:
[1] https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~jos/pasp/Newton_s_Three_Laws_Motion.html

[2] https://www.britannica.com/science/gravity-physics/Newtons-law-of-gravity

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

con tried his best, arguing unknowns and the effects of other celestial bodies, but pro provided his claim relatively well (if only a little muddled... I've seen a video easily resolve the problem within minutes). Perhaps Con should've stressed the idea of the fact that there is an edge, the fact that centripedal force encourages the person to stay on that exact edge, that you are more likely to fall towards the center than off that edge. Regardless, he wins.